Union

Union tells the story of the original Union of Scotland and England in 1707 as you’ve never heard it before.

Tim Barrow’s play is an energetic and highly theatrical romp through the raucous leaking taverns off the Royal Mile, Kensington Palace and the Scottish Parliament.

Union is rich in famous historical figures such as Daniel Defoe and Queen Anne, as well as our great Scottish poet - Allan Ramsay - who finds love in Grace, a prostitute in the bawdy and dangerous world of Eighteenth Century Edinburgh.

Don’t miss this big, foul-mouthed yet eloquent story as it leaps onto The Lyceum stage in the year of referendum.

Writer, Tim Barrow says: " Before writing this play, I knew nothing about the Act of Union in 1707 — I wasn't taught it at school. When researching these incendiary times, an amazing cast of characters were uncovered and, above all, I found the poetry of Allan Ramsay and fell under his spell. The events are incredible. Scottish MPs took money and titles to write their Parliament out of existence and their poverty-stricken, powerless citizens were left to struggle on as best they could. I am so excited to share this incredible story with Lyceum audiences."

Creative Learning Events

Creative Learning events for this production

Curtain Raiser: Union

(Change of speaker due to illness, Owen Dudley-Edwards will now replace Professor Tom Devine)

Join distinguished historian, Owen Dudley-Edwards, director Mark Thomson, and playwright, Tim Barrow, for a stimulating and informative conversation about the historic setting of the play and the making of The Lyceum's production - Union.

Press Coverage

Reviews

"...approaches the vivid history behind the choice Scotland now faces with such vigour and boldness, and such powerful flashes of poetry and insight, that everyone in Scotland who cares about the nation’s future should see it and then argue about it, far into the night."Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

"Deftly directed by Mark Thomson...Union is easy on the eye. Barrow’s language is colourful, witty and of the streets. It paints larger-than-life characters requiring just the right level of heightened performance, without straying into pantomime...the stage belongs to Liam Brennan’s delightfully duplicitous Duke of Queensberry."Liam Rudden, Edinburgh Evening News

"...Liam Brennan is a truly scurrilous, self-serving Duke of Queensberry, Irene Allan is outrageously twisting as Anne and Keith Fleming is vicious, hurt and intimidating by turns in various roles. But Tony Cownie’s limpid Earl of Stair stands out for its depth, his weak eyes masking vicious brutality...Bawdy, fun and timely..."Thom Dibdin, The Stage

"An exceptional cast, including Brennan as the debauched and duplicitous Duke of Queensberry are one of the true joys of this production"Amy Taylor, The Public Reviews

"Witty barbs compete with elegant, measured rhetoric, as we revel in skillful political language, now rarely used by our own beige overlords. It’s the crowning cherry on a play rich in colour, language and spectacle."Kirsten Hayley, TV Bomb

"Many of the ten actors play a whole selection of obnoxious characters...The most fun though is to be had when Brennan and Allan with Queensbury get the Queen wrecked on whisky and then introducing her to some particularly unsuitable songs...a light romp through history."Seth Ewin, British Theatre Guide